Minister of Solid Minerals, Dr. Kayode Fayemi in Ajaokuta yesterday revealed the plans of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration to turn around the fortune of the long moribund Ajaokuta Steel Company Limited.
In the company of counterpart Minister for State in the Ministry, Alhaji Abubakar Bwari Bawa, Fayemi stated that though he was visiting the complex for the first time, he was however impressed by the level of potential that gave hope for the country’s industrialization 35 years ago.
“It is unfortunate that almost 34 to 35 years of its existence when we would have moved from an idea to a practical bedrock of industrialization of our country, this has not happened.” “I want to let you know that the President is very passionate about the Ajaokuta steel company. We will take a look at the company holistically with a view to making it work for the benefits of Nigerians.
“We are looking at the entire steel complex. We are not going to segment the plant. We are told that the captive power plant, has been reactivated. After taking the one needed by the company, we will be happy if Kogi and its environs could benefit from the remaining Megawatt” the minister stated. He said their focus as a government is that solid minerals would become an alternative revenue earner for the country.
Earlier, the Sole Administrator of the company, Engr. Isah Joseph Onobere, noted that since the determination of the Russian contract, the original designers of the company in 1994, no significant progress was made in the fortunes of the company.
He called on the government to ensure the timely completion of the company, saying that the minister’s visit after few months in office, is a clear demonstration of government’s good intention to complete the steel plant. He described the much taunted obsolete nature of the technology adopted by the Ajaokuta steel company as borne largely out of ignorance and campaign of calumny against the Nigerian state.
